A Graduation Gift

Then the room was enveloped with silence. The awkward situation held the two in a daze and they just dropped down their heads in an effort to avoid each other's eyes. It was Jasper who broke the silence.

"Oh! Forget it! We'd better not meddle in the way of the youngsters. Everything would be all right as long as we two can keep each other company."

Jasper held Michelle's hand while looking at her with his eyes filled with adoration.

Michelle let out a sigh of despair. It seemed that they had been left with no choice. She wished that they would get over it patiently and considerately. She didn't want her reckless actions in her youth been replayed by them.

Cassandra froze, eyeing the lift door closing before her. With Rufus's face gradually fading out of her sight, she felt like the world was being shut down upon her.

She was aching to jump up and hug him to reconcile; she wanted to be like any other woman who would run after their boyfriends and give them last-minute hugs before they go.

But she couldn't. She was Cassandra, the wife, though nominal, of Rufus's half-brother.

Her stomach churned at the thought of Rufus. She wanted desperately to go after him, but she stopped herself and pounded her chest slightly with one hand.

It felt so bad to be in a situation like that. She could do nothing but watch him go.

Tears welled up in her eyes in frustration.

Cassandra thought she was strong enough all this time. When her father was put into jail, she didn't lose her nerve but tried every way to minimize the negative impact of the aftermath.

But for the one she loved most, she felt powerless and could do nothing.

"Rufus..."

She whispered his name in a soft voice, but it sounded like she was so feeble and weak deep inside that no sound was coming out of her mouth.

Cassandra didn't realize until now that she had already fallen deeply in love with him. Her mind was always occupied by his occasional highhanded manner, his unspoken concern for her, and his ubiquitous care and support. Rufus had done so many things for her.

And she did just take them for granted. Cassandra had got used to his kindness. She needn't utter a word and he would jump out from somewhere to get her out of trouble on the dot, without hurting her sensitive pride.

Sadly, Cassandra had nothing to pay him back. She couldn't give him back the love he was showing her since she had to abide by the secular rules.

Such a forbidden love made her heart ache. Tears from her eyes trickled down, she looked sad and forlorn.

Feeling weak in the knees, Cassandra let herself squat down. She buried her head in her palms and sobbed bitter tears. The LED screen in front of her was displaying an ascending number, the elevator was going up.

It was getting closer and closer to the floor where she was squatting half-heartedly.

heard a loud sound as the

saw a pair of man's feet striding out of the lift

her surprise Rufus's stoic face materialized in front of her. He gazed

get up, rubbed off her tears with her hands, and

did you come

arms, silently, as if trying to knead her into his body, into

she didn't want to break away. She thought she would never regret even if she

"Cassandra... Cassandra..."

name in her ear sent shivers down her spine. There was a tinge of

"What's wrong, Rufus?"

hug from the way he did before. His hugs before were so possessive and captivating; now, however, it felt like

immersed with Cassandra's warmth. With the surge of his emotions, he reached out to cup her chin with his hands. Slowly and

a tender kiss. His warm lips seemed to

leaving him to explore the fullness of her

knew that Rufus had so many mysteries

be forever, much more that she felt like being a

let go of her. Cassandra

felt like I am such a loser if you prefer to turn to

in dismay, his eyes brimming with pain and adoration. He reached out to stroke her long

floor when Victor who was waiting for him informed him that someone had witnessed how

why Cassandra took a bath at Dylon's place. It must be that she wanted to remove the paint before

her and immediately turned back to console her. As soon the elevator

sobs. The tears on her innocent face stung his heart.

that she was sensitive but not to this extent. He took the blame and felt guilty for hurting

caring gaze, Cassandra couldn't help but feel relieved. She nodded and said, "You will be the first one to

sparkled in her eyes, like glistening stars

and Cassandra felt way better than earlier. Sensing that she was comforted, Rufus took her hand and led her

Cassandra, how is the project

into the hall when Horace got up from the couch and asked them.

she was rejected today when Rufus spoke to answer his question, "I don't think we can recapture the whole project of the amusement park, but we might be able to get half of it. Besides, the design of

look of assurance and confidence on

had hoped it would be a

the Tang Group, he must have put much effort into it. Even

the Tang Group nor the Dawn Star Group would

tried to hold back her shock. How come she heard no word of this news?

it going to